Correlation of HER-2 over-expression with clinico-pathological parameters in Tunisian breast carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Breast carcinoma is a disease with a tremendous heterogeneity in its clinical behavior. Newer prognostic factors and predictors of response to therapy are needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of HER-2, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) in breast carcinoma and to compare it with other prognostic parameters such as histological type and grade, tumor size, patients' age, and lymph node metastases.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study conducted in the department of pathology at Sfax University Hospital. Confirmed 155 Cases of breast carcinoma were reviewed in the period between January 2000 and December 2004. We used immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression of HER-2, ER, and PR receptor and Chi-square and Fisher exact test to correlate immunohistochemical findings with prognostic parameters for breast carcinoma such as patients' age, tumor size, histological type, histological grade and lymph node status.


RESULTS
The mean age of patients was 51.5 years, ranging from 22 to 89 years. 80 (51.6%) of the patients were below 50 years. The percentage of expression of HER-2, ER and PR was 26, 59.4, and 52.3%, respectively. HER-2 was over-expressed (3+) in 18.1% of the cases, was inversely related to ER expression (p = 0.00) and to PR expression (p = 0.048). This over-expression was also associated with a high tumor grade with marginal significance (p = 0.072). A negative correlation was noted between ER and PR expression and SBR grade (p = 0.000) and ER and age (p = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
HER-2 over-expression was observed in 18.1% of Tunisian breast carcinoma affecting female patients. This group presents apparently an aggressive form of breast carcinoma with high histological grade and negative ER.
Ayadi
Lobna
L
Department of Pathology, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia. ayadilobna@yahoo.fr
Khabir
Abdelmajid
A
Amouri
Habib
H
Karray
Sondes
S
Dammak
Abdallah
A
Guermazi
Mohamed
M
Boudawara
Tahya
T
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone